Summer an Important Time for Young Readers

You've packed the sunscreen, the beach towels and the hand-held video games for vacation. But did you pack the books?

Summer marks a time when many children may not have something specifically assigned to read, and Schools Supt. James Crisfield said they run the risk of regressing in their literacy skills if they take two months off. It's especially true for children who may be struggling with reading, he said.

"We believe anyone can read, but it may take someone longer to learn or it could take them longer to hit their stride," he said. "Without any practice, it can be more difficult."

Middile and high school students have some required reading for the fall, but elementary school students are free to read what they want. Both Crisfield and Patt Kent, Millburn Public Library children's librarian, said it's the time of year kids can read something fun whether it's a comic book or something else.

"A lot of parents are concerned about their kids reading trash," Kent said. "But summer is a time to read for fun. They can read the other books during the school year."

Crisfield said it can be tough to find the right things to read for a child. If something is boring because it's too easy or they don't understand it, it will turn a child off to reading. But talking to a children's librarian can help parents find the right books for their children.

With a level for reading, typically chapter books are for 8 year olds and up, Kent said. Books for kindergarten through second grade are typically of the emerging reader variety. There are some easier chapter books to bridge the gap between the two types of books.

It can be hard to know the level of book and what's right, she said. If you're in a book store, the children's book sales clerks usually have a sense of what other kids that age are reading. Teachers can give suggestions on what to read as can the children's librarians.

Kent said the most important thing for parents to do is listen to their child's interests. There are some children who will read Pokemon and nothing else. Reading now is about the process and keeping the flow going, so it's good to find interesting books, she said.

For beginning readers, she suggested, parents should look for something fun with bright pictures. Then look for the topic that interests the child, like sports. "Not every child will want to read the same thing," she said. The Rainbow Fairies book series is popular with some girls, but not every girl will want to read it.

Parents also should look for authors a child likes, Kent said. Some authors cover a variety of topics and levels of reading. If a child is familiar with the author, she said, he may be willing to branch out and read other topics if it is by that author.

Plus children are starting to read what their other friends are reading. "It's not just adults," she said. "I've seen it as young as third graders."

If a parent does want a child to read a particular book, Kent suggested asking a friend or librarian to recommend it to the child. "They may be more interested than if it comes from mom or dad," she said.

Some of the popular books this summer include The Red Pyramid series by Rick Riordan, who previously wrote the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, which was about ancient Greece. The new series is about ancient Egypt. Kent said Riordan is doing for history books what J.K. Rowling did for fantasy with Harry Potter.

Mo Willems is a popular author for younger readers, Kent said, and everyone is waiting for his new book. While bright children's books, they tell a story, she said.

Dan Gutman books are rarely on the shelf long, Kent said. He writes a variety of types of books including the Weird School series and baseball card mysteries. He has different types of books on assorted topics for various age levels.

There also are old favorites like Nancy Drew and Beverly Cleary that are popular, especially with the new "Ramona and Beezus" movie in theaters. Cleary's books are  a favorite with some parents over the Junie B. Jones books. Some parents don't like how the Junie B. Jones series doesn't use proper language, which can be a problem for children just learning to read, Kent said.

Harry Potter books remain popular, and a new movie on the horizon will renew interest, Kent said. There are copies in both the children's and young adult sections at the library. Children as young as third grade were reading the books when they first came out, she said, but she recommends them for children in at least fourth grade. "Third graders, especially when they're entering third grade, don't quite have the language skills yet," she said.

Young adult books, which are for seventh grade and up, have their own section of the library away from the children's section. Kent said the Twilight series books remain popular for that age, but she's noticed a shift in the types of popular books. It used to be Gossip Girl and teen angst books that were popular, but it now seems it's all vampires.